Southampton City Council fact sheet
Each year we receive approximately 2000 enquiries regarding trees. All requests for tree work are prioritised into categories using the ‘Traffic Light Trees’ system.
Works identified in response to Traffic Light Trees enquiries, will be dealt with by a planned programme of tree work that will deal with identified problems and hazards on a priority basis.
Step by step
When you make a request for tree works we take the following steps:
Your initial enquiry is logged by Actionline and you are given an enquiry number. The Open Spaces team will contact you to inform you the date you can expect a visit from a tree officer.
The tree officer visits to inspect the tree(s) and decides whether any works are appropriate and priority category.
If any work is agreed the council’s contractor will visit the site and carry out the work within the agreed time period.
Categories
So what do the categories mean?
EMERGENCY: Our number one priority is public safety, any tree that is immediately dangerous is treated as and emergency and dealt with within two hours.
RED: Needs urgent attention and will be visited by the tree contractor within 12 weeks.
AMBER: Needs attention to stop it becoming dangerous or a nuisance and will be visited by a tree contractor within six months.
GREEN: Works are not essential but are carried out as part of the council’s ‘good neighbour’ policy.
Generally, ‘Green’ category trees require work such as removing branches that significantly overhang gardens. Only 10% of our resources is available for these works so only selected green category works will be carried out within a maximum of 18 months of the enquiry.
The council’s open spaces team looks after at least 40,000 trees on land owned by the city council. We need to prioritise our tree work to ensure that the council is able to undertake all of the urgent works that arise, therefore some types of work that fall into the green category are not undertaken:
Trees obstructing television reception
Trees obstructing light
Fruit and leaves falling from trees
Trees obstructing views.
What happens if the work is not carried out in time?
We try and make sure that all works are completed on time but events (for example gales) that are outside our control sometimes increase the amount of emergency work and cause delays. In the event of any significant delays we will notify you of new start dates.
Benefits of trees
Healthier lives – by filtering polluted air, reducing chemical smog formation, shading out harmful solar radiation and providing an attractive and calming setting for recreation, trees can have a positive effect on health.
Climate – the shelter and shade from trees can save up to 10% of the energy needed to heat or cool nearby buildings. They also reduce the effects of air pollution and make outdoor spaces more comfortable.
Wildlife – trees play a vital role in the urban ecosystem by helping to support a great variety of wildlife for people to enjoy.
Landscape quality – trees and woods can bring out the best in an area’s local character. Trees soften the landscape of hard-edged towns and cities, making them greener, more comfortable and more attractive.
Sustainable communities – the landscape is the place where people meet. When communities play an active part in caring for their local trees and woods, this helps to build more confidence and shared enjoyment.
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Last updated: 12 October 2007